We are pleased to announce the Society of Wetland Scientists and the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Conference will meet in conjunction with INTECOL 9, and their presentations on planning, policy and science will be integrated into the program. We welcome our colleagues to this premier event – the largest wetlands conference in the world.

OPTIONAL Pre-Conference
Technical Training Field Trips

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Please note the number of participants individual field trips are limited to is published at the top of each flyer. Field trip seating is very limited therefore participation is restricted to meeting attendees only. Sorry, no guests.

Please note the Technical Training Field Trips will take place in various outdoor locations which involve traversing rugged terrain, canoeing for two hours and visiting Florida’s natural sub-tropical environment. Participants should expect to deal with heat and humidity and the possibility of sunburn, insects and wildlife. Though every reasonable precaution will be taken to prevent injury, in order to participate in a technical field trip, participants must sign a liability waiver accepting full responsibility should they suffer bodily injury or harm. Each field trip flyer will list specific instructions on how to dress, what to bring and what refreshments will be provided.

The tour will start at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center where you will get an over view of the natural history of this expansive refuge that surrounds much of the Kennedy Space Center. While at the visitor center we will explore the board walk and get oriented to some of the wetlands of the refute and the restoration efforts being conducted. We will then proceed to the Black Point Wildlife Drive where we will drive along impounded dikes to view a gradient of freshwater marshes, salt marshes and mangrove wetlands many of which are within impoundments first constructed for mosquito control and now managed for waterfowl habitat and many are in various phases of restoration. Along the way there will be ample opportunities to observer many species of local birds as well as reptiles that are common to the area. After we exit the Black Point Wildlife Drive we will travel to Cape Canaveral National seashore to look over a relatively recent impoundment restoration and dike leveling and see the coastal barrier island and beach along the Atlantic Ocean. If time permits we will also see if we can catch a glimpse of the threatened and endangered, and charismatic Scrub Jay.

Participants will tour portions of the Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area (EMCA), a 2,560 ha area of former agricultural farms. Restoration at this site converted former row-crop farm fields and cattle pastures to wetland and aquatic habitat. In addition, nutrient loading from the former farms to adjacent Lake Griffin was reduced by about 80%. This resulted in substantial water quality improvements in Lake Griffin and the return of submerged aquatic vegetation so important for fish and wildlife habitat. The EMCA has become a major wildlife observation site that is heavily utilized by the public.

Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area and the adjoining 3,600 ha Lake Griffin west of Leesburg, FL. have been a focus of restoration efforts by the St. Johns River Water Management District since 1995. The tour will begin at the ‘Wood Duck Parking Area’ at the beginning of the Emeralda Marsh Wildlife Drive. The bus will travel over former agricultural farm levees which have been elevated and stabilized with limerock. The tour will first see a recently established connection from a former farm field and cattle pasture area of about 280 ha to Haynes Creek, the major tributary of Lake Griffin. Next, the tour will stop at an alum treatment system which functions to treat discharges from about 430 ha of former row crop farm fields located on the western portion of the restoration area. Water levels are currently controlled on these sites to encourage wetland vegetation. Because residual nutrient concentrations remain at levels not acceptable for discharge to restored Lake Griffin, all discharges are treated with aluminum sulfate to control phosphorus concentrations. The tour will then travel over these former row-crop farm fields to observe the ongoing restoration to wetland habitat. This will be a prime opportunity to see wildlife. The last stop on the tour will be at the ‘P’ cell retention area and alum treatment system at Emeralda Island Road. This structure provides alum treatment of all water being discharged from about 1,120 ha of restored wetland and aquatic habitat east of Emeralda Island Road. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars and cameras and wear close-toes shoes. Rain jackets and sunscreen protection are recommended.

Tour participants will walk to the springs and hike through a network of trails within the recreation area of each spring.
Juniper Springs is a second-magnitude spring with an oval-shaped pool that measures about 120 feet from north to south and 90 feet from east to west. Several limestone vents and sand boils are present on the pool bottom, with sand and aquatic grasses in other areas of the pool. The clear, bluish water has a low dissolved solids concentration compared with most Florida springs. A limestone and concrete wall with steps and other access points surrounds the pool. An old millhouse and spillway are on the east side of the pool. Numerous sand boils are located down the run from the main pool, with the largest by the bridge over the run. The springs are the headwaters of Juniper Creek, which meanders toward the northeast through the Juniper Prairie Wilderness for about 10 miles to Lake George.

Juniper Springs Vent

Juniper Springs Outlet

Silver Glen Springs is a first-magnitude spring with a large, semicircular pool that measures 200 feet from north to south and 175 feet from east to west. Most of the strong flow emerges from two cavern openings in the rock at the bottom of the pool, with large boils at the water's surface over the vents. The vertical cave opening called the Natural Well in the southwestern edge of the pool is about 12 to 15 feet in diameter and 40 feet deep. The vent in the east part of the pool is a conical depression about 18 feet deep. Most of the spring pool has sand and limestone on the pool bottom, with areas of aquatic grasses. Large fresh and saltwater fish are common in the pool and around the vents. Additional flow is from sand boils in the bottom of the spring run downstream from the head of the springs. Water from the springs flows eastward down a run about 200 feet wide for 0.75 mile to Lake George.

(Limited to 25 people)Bus Departs Hotel at 8:00am
Returns to Hotel at 3:00pm

Fort Christmas Park has a full size replica Fort. Seven restored historical homes preserve the 'Cracker' architecture of East Orange County. The houses are interpreted to show pioneer life from the 1870s through the 1930s. Key themes are homesteading, cattle, citrus, hunting, fishing and trapping. Many interpretive displays are available.

Orlando Easterly Wetlands visitors will tour the 1,650 acre wetland treatment system. Visitors will learn how the constructed wetlands are used to remove excess nitrogen and phosphorus from 15million gallons per day of wastewater effluent. At the same time the facility provides a home to numerous species of indigenous, threatened and endangered wildlife.

(Limited to 35 people)
Bus to Depart Hotel at 8:00am
Bus to Return to Hotel at 4:00pm

This tour will highlight two constructed wetlands in Central Florida. The Greenwood Urban Wetland receives and treats urban stormwater runoff from downtown Orlando, and the Orlando Easterly Wetlands (aka Orlando Wetlands Park) receives tertiary treated wastewater from the Iron Bridge Wastewater Reclamation Facility before discharging to the St. Johns River. Both systems are excellent examples of integrated treatment wetland design and have been operational for almost two decades and provide insight into long-term management and performance of these systems.

Tour will visit a site with ongoing restoration of 80 km2 of former agricultural lands to wetlands, including a 275-ha treatment wetland for nutrient removal from lake water (Lake Apopka Marsh Flow-Way). Topics covered include restoration of hydrologic conditions; nutrient control on former agricultural lands; persistence, bioaccumulation, and remediation of organochlorine pesticides in organic soils; and nutrient removal in a treatment wetland at high hydraulic loading and low inflow concentrations.

Lake Apopka, northwest of Orlando, has been a focus of restoration efforts by the SJRWMD (St. Johns River Water Management District) since 1985. The tour will visit portions of 80-km2 former farmlands on the north shore of Lake Apopka in various stages of wetland restoration. You will see presentations on the overall restoration program for 125-km2 Lake Apopka and its watershed, on contaminant studies and soil remediation completed on the former farms prior to reflooding, and on a 275-ha treatment wetland for nutrient removal. Prior to the 1940s, Lake Apopka had clear water and abundant gamefish. Agricultural development of the floodplain wetland resulted in increased phosphorus loading to the lake that caused chronic algal blooms starting in 1947. The once abundant submersed macrophytes were eliminated by shading, and sportfish populations declined. Key to restoration of the lake is the reduction in nutrient loading through purchase of the farms and restoration of wetlands. Restoration of hydrologic conditions is complicated by the fact that decades of agriculture resulted in up to 2 m subsidence of the organic “muck” soils. The soils contain organochlorine pesticide residues and have a high phosphorus content. You will see abundant birds and wildlife. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars and cameras and wear close-toed shoes. Bring rain jackets and sun protection as needed.

Participants will experience the “real” Florida and will be able to see a wide variety of habitats. These vast wildlife management areas (Bull Creek = 23,470 ac; Triple N = 15,391 ac) will provide the opportunity to see many of Florida’s inland habitats ranging from sandy, scrubby areas to wet, peaty swamps and marshes. In Bull Creek WMA, trip leaders will present the hydrologic management challenges of managing an area of this size and then allow participants to foray into the swamp (wear shoes that can get wet!). Then we will head for higher ground and hear about the fire management and invasive plant management techniques that are used to manage this diverse resource. Trip participants will get to visit some of the finest examples of several Florida habitats including Scrub, Palmetto prairies, Hardwood Hammocks, Pine Flatwoods, Marshes, and Hardwood Swamps. All along the tour, our Guides will point out rare and interesting plant species that occur in those areas (including hooded pitcher plant, bromeliads, butterfly orchids, sundews).

Located at the headwaters of the Wekiva River, the beautiful vistas within this park offer a glimpse of what Central Florida looked like when Timucuan Indians fished and hunted these lands. Just one hour from most central Florida attractions, Wekiwa Springs offers visitors the opportunity to relax in a natural setting, enjoy a picnic, or take a swim in the cool spring. Canoeists and kayakers can paddle along the Wekiva River and Rock Springs Run. This will be a day trip to Wekiwa Springs State Park (1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, FL 32712). We will do a short canoe trip down the springs and back and spend time exploring the spring and surrounding river hammocks. Along the way, the Tour Leader will provide background information on the geology and ecology of Florida springs and related wetland habitats. The canoeing is “flatwater” and suitable for those with minimal or no experience. Safety gear (personal flotation device, whistle) is provided with the canoe rental.

(Limited to 30 people)
Bus to Depart Hotel at 9:30am
Bus to Return to Hotel at 2:30pm

Participants will enjoy a guided tour through a restored wetland site of approximately 1,000 acres in Polk County. This land sits in the area of the headwaters of the largest restoration project in the world, the Florida Everglades. Wildlife such as bears, whooping cranes and bald eagles are a frequent site. The landowners, as good stewards of the land, contracted with NRCS for a WRP easement on portions of their typical Florida ranch. These easements restrict development and conserve the land for future generations. The wetland restoration project was completed in 2006. Participants will become familiar with the wetland ecosystems of this site. In addition, participants will be introduced to the hydrological principles behind the structural restoration work performed. Wetland management topics will also be discussed including the use of prescribed grazing for invasive plant control. Time permitting participants will view a Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) site in the same area.